This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band.

The ALLERGAN protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band.

Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band.

Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week.

The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows:

1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to 4 weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to 4 weeks after the fill. That is why the ALLERGAN protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill.

2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band.

3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food.

4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient.

5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again.

6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food.

7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again.

Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater.

It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

My Dr doesn't put the needle through my scar. The scar is where the port site is. He puts the needle below to insert the saline through the tubing. Make sense? He never misses and I am restricted.

That is kinda a weird way of doing a fill. Wouldn't sticking the tubing with the needle cause the tubing to leak?? I have read one of the complications of lap band is tube leakage. The purpose of the port is to do fills.It has a soft spot in the middle for the needle. Never heard of that way of doing a fill. But if it is working for you....then happy days!!

I just read the end of this thread and want to put my 2 cents in ....

My port is below my scar because the scar is where they origionally had an instrument for the banding then they use that access to attach the port on the muscle fascia.....so

During a fill the needle is put at the port site not the scar site...The port is for injecting not the tubing....it is made of a material that will accept the needle and not leak out....hopefully!

Shelly, I met with someone yesterday that has the same band as you by the same dr. She said it took her 4 fills to get restriction. I remember you asking me that, so I thought I would pass it along.

I have been told to drink fluids for two days after my first fill ( This Thurs) and then mushies for two days. What kind of fluids have ya'll been able to drink? Can you drink protein shakes and smoothies okay? I'm nervous. I'm hoping for some restriction, not too much, but a noticeable amt. Not asking for much am I? LOL Nancy

Thanks for the info Denise...maybe 3 will be my charm!

tnag86...My doc likes about 3 days of clear liquids...ugh! Anyway, I have done mostly broth and herbal teas....

I did have an isopure drink which had protein but I hate fake fruit flavors so...ugh...the green tea one is ok...I also like to drink this stuff from HiHealth...if you have one...called Coconut Water......it has a tiny bit of fructose so it helps to keep me from the headache I experienced after the first fill.....It also has calcium and potassium which is good...it said to be natures sports drink....

I also have drank Smart Water because it has electrolytes in it...all about staying hydrated....

I must admit, I have had a protein shake about late day 2....I was not swollen so it went down fine....it was not clear....

So, some people can just do 1 day of liquids and then mushies....I try and hold out....

Good Luck!

amsderb, thanks for the scoop? So you do clear liquids mostly, not full? I don't know if I could last that long on clears? Did you feel pretty good restriction after first fill? I know it varies a lot!!! Nancy

Hi Nancy, unfortunately I did not feel restriction but it did diminish my hunger between meals some....

I suppose for a few weeks I felt a bit of a restriction....I am really hoping this 3rd fill will do it...everyone is different....My band is a 9cc band and I have 6cc's so maybe if they put in 1 - 1.5 more I will be there.....you do not want to be too tight but not too light either...I haven't had anything stuck so that's all good!

So good luck on your fill and I'll let you know about mine Tuesday.

how are the fills done? does it hurt?

I am from WV and will be having lapband as well as hernia surgery.

I was wondering how long will I have to be off from Work? Have you had your surgery yet? If so when, and how much have you lost?

I am from WV also. I was off work about a week. I know some people are off shorter times and others longer but I think the average is about a week. I had my surgery on July 17 with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver and I lost 10 pounds pre-op and 30 pounds post-op. Forty pounds and counting. They tell you to expect 1 or 2 pounds per week.

OK...so today I had my third fill...

So here is the scoop......I think my tummy was still numb from the surgery because my first fill was a piece of cake.

OK....now don't freak...my second fill I had a newer fill nurse practitioner and she had to "poke" me twice...it is not horrible but they do not numb us at our doc's...some do..

Today was my third fill...the first fill nurse parctitioner did it...I DID feel it a bit but it is not like I'd go and cry or anything at all...It is just not a comfortable feeling...

I am not trying to freak anyone out...I would definitely still do this again and it is no worse than a shot...so...if this is what it takes to loose weight for good.... I am in!

Good Luck!

I got my second fill yesterday. My first fill was 8/19 (3 ccs in 8 cc band). Yesterday, they took out 3 ccs then put in 4 ccs, the water didn't go down very well so they took out .5 cc and then the water went down real fast. I said I didn't think it was tight enough but the Nurse Practitioner said she didn't want me to be too tight so I should just leave it at 3.5 ccs for now and I might find that in a couple of days I feel more restriction. We'll see. I plan on being aggressive with my fills. If I don't feel more restriction/dimishing of hunger between meals, then I'm going to keep going back until I get it right. I paid for a full year of unrestricted fills/unfills for just this reason.

Now that you mentioned it...I have heard that some people feel more restricted several days later...

My water always goes down fine. It is funny how different our bodies are...some people only need like 1 fill...

I am still on liquids and I do feel a bit of pressure...so,maybe I'll see a difference! Good luck to you Dionna.

I just had my second fill on Thursday. I have noticed I am having pulsating contractions in my stomach. Not in my chest but in my upper stomach where the band would be. They are painful and happen throughout the day. It doesn't happen just when I eat or drink. I can be sitting down and they hit me all of a sudden. I am not sure if this is esophageal spasms as the symptoms are different than what i have been told. Has anyone ever had these particular symptoms and I wonder if it is because of this last fill....

Did you call to inform your doc? ask them??? I am not trying to be glib...just concerned.